The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-10
AN INTERNAL MACHINE.
NARROW ESCAPE OF JUSTICE STE
PHEN ]. FIELD.
A Death-Dealing Contrivance Sent to
Him Through the Mails-The Only
Like Attempt Ever Made Upon q
Justice.
Special Dispatch to the ApneaI.

Justice.
Special Dispatch to the Appeal.
WASHINGTON, Nov. S.-The only case in
which a bona fde attempt was ever made
on the life of II present member of the SUI
preme court with an internal machine is
related in little book, published for pri-
vate circulation only, and entitled, Per
sonal "reminiscences of Early Days in Cali
fornia, with other Sketches" by Mr.. JUS
tice Stephen j. Field, in the following
words: 'ln October following 1869 pro-
ceeded, as usual, 20 Washington TO attend
the then approaching term OF the supreme
court, and thought no more of the case
unit! my attention was called to il by
most extraordinary circumstance. Just
before leaving San Francisco Mr.. Rulofson,
photographer Of note, requested me TO
sit for photograph, expressing desire to
add it to his gallery consented, and u
photograph OF large size was taken. As
L was leaving his rooms he observed
that he intended TO make some
pictures of small size from
1t, and would send me few copies. On
the morning of the 18th of January follow
ing, 1866, at Washington, Mr.. Delos Lake,
a lawyerof distinction in California, at one
time district judge OF the State, and then
district attorney OF the United States,
joined me, remarking MS he did so, that
the arrival of the California steamer at
New York had been tclcgraphed and he
hoped had received some letters for him.
as he had directed his letters TO be forwarded
10 ,Al
left my room my messenger had not
brought my mail, but il he would accom-
pany me there we would probably find it,
Accordingly, we proceeded TO my room,
where, on the center table, lay my mail
from California, consisting Of a large num-
Der of letters and papers. Among them
noticed small package about inches
thick, 3 inches in breadth and % inches in
length. II was addressed MS follows, the
words being printed Hon. Stephen J.
Field, Washington, u. c., per steamer.
at bore the stamp Of the san Francisco
postoilicc upon the address. My name
had evidently been cut from the California
reports, but the words Washington, ID.
c. and per steamer had been taken
from newspaper. The slips were pasted
on the package. On the opposite side
were the words, in print, From Geo. II.
Johnson's pioneer gallery, Nos. 6ij and $40
Clay street, san Francisco
as took up the package ! remarked
that this must come from RulOisOn; no, |
Immediately added, Rulofson has nothing
TO do with the Pioneer gallery. II then
occurred to me that il might he n Christ
mas present for my wife, rccollccting
nj the moment that the mail came
by the steamer which sailed from
san Francisco about Christmas time. II
may be, ! said 10 myself, n Christmas
present for nav wife. | will open il
Just far enough Ia see, and, II IL be- in
tended for her. will close il and forward
IL 10 New York, where She was at the
time. ! accordingly tore of the covering
aud raised the lid Just far enough 10 en-
able me 10 look inside. ! was at once
struck with the black appearance
Of the inside. What is this,
IakeY | said, addressing myself 10
my friend. Judge Lake looked over my
shoulder into the box, us | held IL in my
hand, and nj once exclaimed: 1T * u
torpedo. Don't open il. ] was startled
BY the suggestion, for the idea OF torpedo
wrs the last thing in the world to occur 10
me. Immediately laid the package on
the sill OF the window, where IL was sub.
jcctcd TO n careful inspection 10y Ms both,
~ far ~ Il could be made with the iii only
an eighth Of inch open.
Soon aitcrward Judge Lake took the
package To the capitol, which was directly
opposite INV rooms, and 20 the Office of the
clerk Of the supreme court, aud showed II
10 Mr. Broom, one Of the deputies. They
dipped the package into water aud left II
10 soak for some minutes. They
pcn took II into the carriage
W under the steps leading 20 the
Senate chamber, and shielding themselves
behind one OF the columns, threw the box
against the wall. The blow broke the
hinge Of the lid and exposed the contents
A numerous contrivance Il was q ycritablC
internal machine. Twelve cartridges, sucll
~ arr used in a common pistol, about an
inch in length, lay imbcddcd in paste OF
some kind, covered with Illuminating pow.
der and 80 connected with bunch Oi
friction matches, a strip oi sandpupcr and
piece Of linen attached 10 the lii that ON
opening the box the matches would be
ignitcd and the whole exploded. The
package was sent 10 the war department,
and the officials returned detailed NJ
port 81 the contents Of the package
Between the outside covering and the
DON Niltlf Nfff wv W UNIV lRt'tH W NiFNfhi
paper, placed thcrc, no doubt. 10 prevent
The possibility Of an explosion from III,
stamping at the pOsioicc, ~ the striking
against other packages during the yoyagi
from San Francisco 10 New York,
"On the inside OF the lid WIS pasted {
alp cut from San Francisco paper daict
October 81, 1864 stating that on the dal
previous had decided the case Of the CT!
against the United States, involving ~
claim TO four square leagues Of land an,
giving the opening lines Of my opinion.
The writer goes ON 10 say that Gen
Uallcck. then in command NJ San Fran
cisco, under instructions from thc Score
tary Of War, put the detectives Of III
department on the search TOT the pcroI
who made and sent the machine, but th
search was vain. Sufficient evidence 4
Justify thearrcst Of any one WIS never oh
tained. and the instrument, after remain
ing IN San Francisco for two ycars, VA
returned TO Mr. Field, who still has II h
his possession.
An Eleven Year Ola Murderer.
NEW IonR, Nov. 0.--An Atlanta, Ga.
special SAYS; "The youngest murderer !